Which Is Better: Point-of-Use Filtration or Whole-House Filtration?
Point-of-use (POU) filtration is water that is filtered at the point of use, or the faucet. Whole-house filtration is water that is filtered as it is coming into the home, so purified water is delivered to all home appliances.
Both filtration systems are valuable in different ways. In most cases, it is more practical to purchase a whole-home carbon filtration system and a POU system for drinking water and water you use in the kitchen (ice water, water for cooking and making beverages, etc.).
Nevertheless, some situations may call for a whole-home RO system. You may want to purchase a whole-home RO system if you are dealing with highly contaminated water or simply want the highest quality filtered water. Keep in mind that whole-home systems waste much more water.
Even in the most efficient systems, 20% of the water in RO systems goes down the drain as wastewater. If you have a whole-home system, you will also need to purchase an alkaline filter, so your water does not leech or strip piping – and so your water does not get contaminated.
Choose Your Reverse Osmosis System
At McKeown Plumbing, we are proud to offer both POU reverse osmosis systems and whole-home RO systems. Learn more about your options below:
Aquaporin Inside ZERO
The Aquaporin Inside ZERO is a compact point-of-use RO system the size of a briefcase. It is the only membrane in the industry that uses aquaporins – “nature’s own filter” – to filter drinking water.
The device features:
- Beautiful and compact design
- No electricity required
- Delivers 3L /minute of completely filtered drinking water
- 10-minute recover time
- Works in low-pressure situations
- Removes pesticides, viruses, and bacteria
- Clean, great-tasting drinking water
- Enhanced tea and coffee taste
- 50% recovery rate with built-in booster pump and tankless design
Aquaporins are the proteins responsible for transporting and purifying water in all living cells, which require less energy and lead to enhanced filtration capabilities, more efficiency, less water waste, and higher flow rates.
The Aquaporin Inside ZERO costs $950, and the pre- and post-filters cost $175 and need to be replaced every 12 months. Membrane replacements are recommended every 2 to 3 years and priced at $250.
Penguin All-American RO
The Penguin All-American RO is a whole-house reverse osmosis system that reduces wastewater by re-filtering the water used got RO to use as much water as possible and waste as little as possible. With a built-in UV system, the Penguin All-American RO ensures protection from bacteria and viruses. The device’s sediment filter protects your membranes to give them a longer lifespan.
The benefits of the Penguin All-American RO include:
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Antiscalant option for hard water
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Comes equipped with sediment pre-filter
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80% water recovery rates (refilter wastewater to waste less and use more)
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Built-in UV system
Whole-house RO systems cost more than POU systems and depend on the size of your household. The price for the Penguin All-American RO ranges from $13,684 (1-2 bathrooms) to $16,518 (5 or more bathrooms).
You will also need a sediment 5 micron pre-filter ($99 replaced yearly), a UV bulb ($182 replaced yearly), an RO membrane ($600 replaced every 3-5 years).